What kind of "road map" was spoken by the leaders of Uzbekistan and the United States

23.05.2018, 10:21

What kind of

It is known that during the meetings, the heads of states of the USA and Uzbekistan discussed a number of issues including, and related to the provision of human rights and freedoms in our country. 

U.S. President D. Trump positively assessed the government's efforts to improve the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and noted with satisfaction that our country has adopted a "road map" in the sphere of religion or belief.

In order to understand what we are talking about, I would like to explain that the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, A. Shaheed visited Uzbekistan in October 2017.

Shaheed noted with satisfaction that Uzbekistan has gained a lot of experience in ensuring the rights and freedoms in this sphere, and at the same time presented its recommendations on further improving the legislation and bringing it in line with international standards in the field of religion or belief.

In this regard, taking into account the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur, a road map was developed which was approved by the joint resolution of the Council of the Legislative Chamber of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Council of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

According to this resolution, a working group to monitor the implementation of the road map for the freedom of religion or belief was established. It should be noted that freedom of conscience, religion or belief belongs to the category of fundamental human rights.

That is why article 31 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan guarantees freedom of conscience, which refers to the category of personal rights, and freedoms. (Chapter VII of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan).

Personal rights and freedoms of a person are called fundamental in connection with the fact that all other rights, for example, socio-economic and cultural rights arise and develop on the basis of personal rights and freedoms.

The "road map" contains points concerning the improvement of legislation in the sphere of religion or belief and bringing them to the level of international standards.

In particular, it is envisaged to substantially update and adopt the new version of the current Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On freedom of conscience and religious organizations" and bring it in line with article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

It is also recommended to reconsider unclear definitions of  "extremism" and to elaborate a draft law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "on counteracting extremism".

It should be noted that the draft law in the first reading has already been reviewed and conceptually approved by the Legislative Chamber. Currently, the work is underway to prepare the bill for the second reading.

Along with the above, the "road map" also envisages the solution of issues related to the registration of religious organizations, the improvement of the procedure for the publication and distribution of religious literature, the promotion of literacy in the field of religion and freedom of religion and belief, and a number of other issues.

In conclusion, it should be specially noted that the influx of foreign investment, the introduction of new innovative technologies into the country's economy through the provision of loans by the world financial institutions, the technological re-equipment and modernization of certain leading industries fully depends on how effectively ensures and guarantees human rights and freedoms in our country.

Shukhrat BAFAYEV,

deputy of the Legislative Chamber

of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan,

member of the UzLiDeP faction

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